Everyone who is born again has been graced by God in Christ Jesus to do something supernatural. This grace, given to us by the Holy Spirit, came through the new birth when we called upon the name of the Lord. The moment we believed in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit baptized us into the multifaceted body of Christ:
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 KJV)
This is great news! You and I have been graced—or rather gifted—by the Holy Spirit as specialized members of the body of Christ. We are called to express a facet of Jesus and His glory through our unique giftings. Knowing this should excite and motivate us, not only to discover our gifts but also to walk in their power.
Identifying Your Gifts
Before we discuss how to walk in the power of our gifts, we must first identify them. There are twelve gifts that form our spiritual identity as members of the body of Christ. These are divided into two categories:
- The Fivefold Ministry Gifts (Ephesians 4:11): Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
- The Motivational Gifts (Romans 12:3-8): Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy.
Interestingly, the teacher is mentioned in both lists but refers to two different roles. Everyone in the body of Christ can have one or more of these gifts. So, how do we discover which ones we have?
Unlocking the Power of Your Gifts
The Apostle Paul shared the keys to unlocking the power of our gifts in his letter to Timothy:
“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (1 Timothy 4:14-15 KJV)
Let’s break this down into four keys:
1. Revelation
The first step to walking in the power of your gift is Revelation. Paul told Timothy not to neglect the gift that was revealed to him through prophecy and the laying on of hands. Similarly, we need to ask God to reveal what He has placed inside us. The list of twelve gifts is a good starting point—pray and seek His guidance to discern your unique calling.
When I was saved in June 1985 at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, the Lord immediately revealed to me in a vision that I was called to preach. Over time, as I walked with the Lord and sought Him, He brought more clarity to my calling. I discovered I was called to be both a teacher and a prophet. This revelation is foundational to walking in the power of your gift. If you don’t know here is a promise you can stand on: James 1:15 KJV If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
2. Activation
Paul instructed Timothy to “Neglect not” the gift. Once God reveals our gifts, we must not let them lie dormant. Throughout the Old Testament, God would send fire from Heaven to ignite the flame in the tabernacle, but it was the priests’ responsibility to keep that fire burning. Similarly, God lights the fire of our gifts, but we must maintain it.
Paul emphasized this again in 2 Timothy 1:6: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.” The phrase “stir up” in the Greek means to “fan into flame.” We must be deliberate and intentional in nurturing our gifts.
3. Identification
Paul’s next instruction was: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” This is about Identification. Through prayer, meditation, and even imagination, we embrace our identity in Christ and fully own our gifts. It’s like putting on new clothes—we must wear our gifts and see ourselves as God does.
4. Manifestation
Finally, Paul said: “That thy profiting may appear to all.” This is the result of walking in the power of your gift: Manifestation. When we meditate on our God-given identity, it changes us from the inside out, leading to tangible results. As Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Meditation leads to manifestation. When we acknowledge every good thing in us through Christ Jesus, our faith becomes effectual:
“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 1:6 KJV)
Let the Journey Begin
These are the keys to walking in the power of your gift: Revelation, Activation, Identification, and Manifestation. It’s a journey that requires intentionality, faith, and perseverance. Let’s take the first step and trust God to guide us as we walk in the fullness of His purpose for our lives.